Saugus girls cross country get closer, but cannot take down the two-time defending national champs

If the Saugus girls cross country team is known as a running juggernaut, what would Fayetteville-Manlius of New York be called?

How about "targeted."

Saugus, running as Santa Clarita Cross Country for this particular race, came closer this year but couldn't overcome the team that has lorded over the nation's top prep cross country programs three years in a row.

The three-time California state champion Centurions finished in second place Saturday for the second consecutive year at the Nike Cross Championship in Portland, Ore.

Saugus finished with an improved time from last year - 93 minutes, 33.24 seconds - but couldn't catch up with Manlius' time of 91:29.60.

"They're good. I'd have to say they're just as good as we are," said Saugus runner Anne Randall. "Their pack was ahead of our pack, and they just ran a better race than we did.

"We ran extremely tough. We ran tougher than ever. Kaylin (Mahoney) was up there far, then it was our pack. We worked together the whole way."